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MIKE RUTSEY, QMI Agency

Aug 6, 2012

, Last Updated: 12:21 AM ET

Prior to the game, the Jays announced they had purchased the contract of right-hander Chad Jenkins from double-A New Hampshire and had designated right-hander Jesse Chavez, the winning pitcher in Saturday’s game, for assignment.

Jenkins was the Jays first-round pick in the 2009 draft and has been considered to be a prime prospect even though his minor league numbers are less than impressive.

With the Fisher Cats this season, Jenkins has gone 5-9 with a 4.96 ERA in 20 starts. In 114 1/3 innings he has allowed 145 hits, walked 31 and struck out 57. He has also allowed 17 home runs.

Over his last 10 starts, though, Jenkins has shown improvement as he has gone 3-3 with a 3.84 ERA. In his last start, July 29 vs. Altoona, he received a no-decision when he went 7 1/3 innings, allowing one run on seven hits. He walked one and struck out six.

He’ll be used as a long reliever.

When he makes an appearance he will become the ninth player to make his major league debut this season with the Jays. The others are INF Adeiny Hechavarria, LHP Evan Crawford, RHP Sam Dyson, C/INF Yan Gomes, OF Anthony Gose, LHP Aaron Loup and OF Moises Sierra.

ROTATION SWITCH

Due to the absence of RHP Carlos Villanueva, who has returned to the Dominican Republic due to a personal matter, the Jays have juggled their rotation. Villanueva was originally to have started the opener in Tampa Bay on Tuesday but his start has now been pushed back a day to Wednesday. Making the start in his place will be lefty J.A. Happ who was promoted to the rotation on Saturday after the demotion of LHP Brett Cecil to triple-A Las Vegas. RHP Henderson Alvarez, originally scheduled for Wednesday, will be pushed back a day to Thursday.

INJURY UPDATES

As expected, neither 3B Brett Lawrie (rib tightness), nor CF Colby Rasmus (right groin tightness) were in the lineup Sunday. The goal now is to have both players available for Tuesday when the Jays open a three-game series against Tampa Bay. “We’ll take advantage of Monday’s off day and hopefully both will be back in the lineup Tuesday when we get to Tampa,” manager John Farrell said.

Regarding slugger Jose Bautista and his injured left wrist, there have been no improvement in the past two days. Given that nature of the injury and the importance of a wrist to a hitter, the Jays will not push the envelope with their star player until it is 100 percent healthy. If that means he misses the rest of August and beyond, so be it.

“He’s still in a treatment and rehab phase,” Farrell said. “We done feel and Jose doesn’t feel that his season is over. But at the same time we don’t want to rush something that ends up causing further damage and could potentially lead to something else being needed. We want to be sure that he’s right before he gets back in the lineup.

On other fronts, veteran reliever Jason Frasor, who has been out since July 17 with forearm tightness, will begin throwing Monday while 1B Adam Lind (back pain) has started some baseball activities such as taking dry swings.